Truss pad



H. A` WARREN.

TRUSS PAD. APPLICATIQN FILED Aue.17. 192|.

gg, i 5 3. Patented July Us NZZ INVENT DE y! 7,1

ATT EHNEYE HERBERT A. WARREN, OF WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRUSS PAD.

Application filed August 17, 1921.

To all whom z'zf may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT A. VARREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Woburn, in the county of Middlesex andv State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Truss Pads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hernial trusses, and has for its object to provide an improved pad, including a body portion adapted to be supported by a belt, and a pressure applicator supported by the body portion and adapted to bear on an effected part, and

v to have a limited universal tipping movement relatively to the body portion, so that the applicator may apply the desired pressure without being displaced from its operative position by movements of the belt.

The invention is embodied in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-

Figure 1 is a side view of a pad embodying the invention, looking toward the inner side.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Figure 1. p Y

Figure 3 is a side view looking toward the outer side, or back of the pad.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing two pads engaged with a belt.

Figure 5 isa view similar to Figure 2, showing a modification.

[Figure 6 is a side view of the spring shown by Figure 5.

In the drawings, 12 represents an annular body having a base adapted to bear on a supporting member, and a central socket 13, extending inwardly from the outer side of the body and of greater diameter at its outer than at its inner end, as shown by Figure 2, the socket having a reduced open inner end within the body, and spaced from the base thereof. Loosely engaged with the body 12 to have a limited universal movement relatively thereto, is a pressure applicator composed of a shank 14, extending through the socket 13, and an enlarged head 15 projecting outward from the body, and of greater diameter than the socket. The shank is provided with an enlargement 16, bearing loosely on the inner end of the socket 13. The body is provided with a spring engaged with and extending across the base portion of the body and bearing on Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1922.

Serial No. 492,899.

the inner end of the shank, to exert an outward yielding` pressure on the applicator, outward movement of the applicator by the spring being limited by the enlargement 16.

The body is provided with means whereby it may be secured to a belt 17, adapted to encircle the body of the wearer. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown by Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the beltengaging means and the spring are parts of an elastic strap 18, preferably of ordinary elastic webbing, said strap having a looped portion engaged with marginal portions of the body 12. Said looped portion includes an outer stretch 18a extending across the back of the body, and an inner stretch 18", extending across the open end of the socket 13. The strap is passed through slots 19, 19, at diametrically opposite por`N tions of the body 12, and one of its ends is attached at 20 to the main portion of the strap.

The strapA is under tension when secured as described, so that its inner stretch 18b con stitutes a spring exerting an outward yielding pressure on the applicator. The elasticity of the outer stretch 18a enables it to be displaced to permit the insertion of the belt 17 between the back side of the body 12 and the said outer stretch, as indicated by Figure L1. The shank enlargement 16 .is adapted to tip freely in various directions in the space between the inner end of the socket and the base of the body, while in contact with the inner end of the socket. The form of the shank and of the socket is such that the shank is adapted to have a limited tipping movement in any direction in the socket,y Vas indicated by Figure 2, one extreme of the tipping movement being indicated by dotted lines. The applicator is capable of a limited longitudinal movement in the socket, so that it may be forced slightly inward against the pressure of the spring, and normally held at the extreme of its outward movement by the spring. The applicator is therefore capable of a limited universal tipping movement, on a 4fulcrum formed by the inner end of the socket, so that the head 15 is adapted to bear on an affected part without being caused to slip thereon by movements of the belt and of the body 12 relatively to said part. The enlarged head 15 is held by the spring offset from the outer side of the body, and a portion'oi` the head bears on the outer side of the body when the applicator is tipped, said bearing limiting the tipping movement.

The strap 18 is elongated and provided Withmeans whereby it may be additionally engaged With the belt 17. As shown by Figure 4, the strap is biturcated, and provided With end portions 18C, adapted to be bent over the upper edge of the belt 17, and, detachably secured thereto by separable "snap fasteners, one member Volf one ot the f astenersbeing Shown at 22.

" at itspends at to the body, and spacedl vvfrom the backside Vof the body to permit 'k12 lWith the belt. l resilient sheet metal, and of'spider form, asshovvnby 'Figure 6, the outer ends of the,

Figure 5 shows a modified construction, Which includes a spring 23, which is indeendent of the means for engaging the body Said spring may be ot arms of the spring bearing on aiiange 12"* vformed on the back side of the body 12.

VAny suitable independent means may be employed for'engaging the body 12 with the belt 17, such as a metal strap 24, attached the insertion of the belt between it and p the body.

The body 12. is preferably made of semihard rubber,'having sufiicient elasticity or compressibility to permit the engagement of the applicator with the body by forcibly pressing lthe shank 14 in to the' socket 13,

i the contracted'portionot the socket being g lslightly yexpanded and permitting therenlargement 1G to pass through'it, thesocket then contracting to prevent the Withdrawal of the enlargement.v The applicator mayV be made of the same or a different material.

I claim: 1. A truss pad comprising an annular body having abase portion, formed to bear on a supporting member, a socket extending vinwardly from the outer side of the body,

and of greater diameter at its outer than at its inner end, the latter being open; a vxpressure applicatorincluding a shank extending entirely through the socket, and

`having an enlargement at its inner end,

and an enlarged head of greater diameter than the socket; anda spring which normally holds the shank enlargement against the inner end of the socket, and the head offset from the outer side of the body, the shank and socket being formed to permit a universal tipping movement ,of the applicator relatively to the body, on a fulcrum formed by vthe inner end ot the socket,

said movement being limited by the beara spring, andv a pressure applicator composed Vof a shank extending through the socket and bearing on :said spring, Vand a head projecting outward from the body,

the shank being provided with an enlargement limiting yits outward movement by the spring, the applicator being adapted to have a limit-ed universal movement-in the l socket. Y Y Y 3. A truss pad substantially as speciied by claim 2, said strap being elongated and extended from the body and provided lWith means whereby itinay be ladditionally engaged with a belt.

In testimonywhereof 1 have aiiixedmy signature.

' HERBERT A. WARREN.l 

